BEIJING (Reuters) - China has flushed Britain's claims to
have invented the water closet down the pan with the discovery
of a 2,000-year-old toilet complete with running water, a stone
seat and a comfortable armrest.

Archaeologists found the antique latrine in the tomb of a
king of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC to 24 AD), who believed
his soul would need to enjoy human life after death, the
official Xinhua news agency said on Wednesday.

"This top-grade stool is the earliest of its kind ever
discovered in the world, meaning that the Chinese used the
world's earliest water closet which is quite like what we are
using today," Xinhua quoted the archaeologists' report as
saying.

"It was a great invention and a symbol of social
civilization of that time," Xinhua said.

The invention of the flush toilet is widely attributed to
London plumber Thomas Crapper, who patented a U-bend siphoning
system for flushing the pan in the late 19th century, and who
also installed toilets for Queen Victoria.

Among other inventions claimed by China are toilet paper,
fireworks, gunpowder, the compass, paper money, kites, printing
and the clock.

The toilet tomb was discovered in Shangqiu county in the
central province of Henan, Xinhua said.

Archaeologists also found a queen consort's stone tomb, more
than 690 feet long and consisting of more than 30 rooms
including a bathroom, toilet, kitchen and an ice-store.